In addition to my previous announcement last week regarding the release of the John Gary and Living Voices Christmas albums (click here), I'm announcing here on this thread another two of the big releases that Gordon Anderson (Co-Founder/President of Real Gone Music) has agreed to release from my list of Christmas reissue recommendations.

This announcement, like the first, is in advance of Edition #15 of "Chip's Tips" which, later this year, will announce the complete lineup of Real Gone Music's Christmas CD releases for 2015. And, as I said before, it's a long list; in fact, if all goes as planned, it will now be a baker'sdozen -- 13! And furthermore, among them are some biggies – including two superbiggies that I have been working on for many years now.

Interestingly, the two albums that I am announcing here have three things in common: first, they were both originally released in 1959; second, they were both part of RCA's great "Living Stereo" LP release series; and third, it's the first-ever release for both albums on CD.

The first album that I'm proud to announce is The Three Suns' 1959 classic Christmas album, A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas. This great album by these three original and innovative music-makers resides in the 1st Tier of my Top 500, coming in at #93.

And the second album is George Melachrino's splendid 1959 Christmas album, Christmas Joy. This album resides in the 2nd Tier of my Top 500, coming in at #158. By the way, Mr. Melachrino's unique version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town from this album is song #66 on the Yule Log broadcast.

The street date for these two CDs, and all of the other Real Gone Music Christmas CD releases that will be released this year (almost all of which were also recommended by me to Gordon for reissue), is early October 2015.

In the meantime, posted below for your enjoyment is a song from each of the two aforementioned albums. The first is Three Suns' delightfully whimsical album title song, A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas; and the second is George Melachrino's charmingly uplifting Fairy On The Christmas Tree. Enjoy!

Thanks for the work and this post, Chip. I've become partial to George Melachrino's music from "Christmas Joy" since finding it a few years ago. It's a different 'take' on some of our Christmas classics - and of course his Fairy on the Christmas Tree that you've embedded is a fun little number.

I'm partial to The Three Suns "Sounds of Christmas" LP - but most seem to be more fond of "A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas" which is certainly a treat for this upcoming Christmas season.

Thanks again for your constant efforts to get great Christmas music back into our hands and 'listening ears,' Chip. Have a great Friday and a better weekend.

Yowza!And Bravo, Chip! These are two stellar releases, if a little obscure for the non-Christmas music obsessed general public - who besides us have even heard of these artists? But that's what makes them GREAT! I NEVER thought The Three Suns' A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas would EVER see the light of day on an official, domestic (non-European public domain) CD reissue. What wonderful news to read on a Friday at work! Multiple copies of each release will be arriving at my house come fall 2015!

Hey, Chip! Now that I'm in my seventies and suffering from heart disease, I had finally given up hope that GeorgeMelachrino's Christmas Joy would ever be released on CD in my lifetime. So I'm hoping my poor old heart can keep ticking for a few more months. You've given me something to live for.

Do you know what the source material for the Melachrino album will be? I seem to recall someone posting here that the Christmas Joy tracks that were included in the two recent Guild Music compilations had been digitally mastered from vinyl LPs.

So glad to hear how much you're looking forward to the George Melachrino release, Will.

The source material for the Melachrino album is nothing less than the bona fide original multitrack masters. The European record companies, including Guild Music, do indeed remaster music from vinyl LPs for the simple reason that the recordings are now out of copyright there and they can legally get away with it. But there is absolutely none of that here, as this CD release will be a truegenuine remastering from the original mulitrack masters.

As you, and a few other members know, I have always preferred Vinyl over CD's; so, I was wondering that since Vinyl Records are making a comeback, have you heard of any of the major record labels re-issuing any of their Christmas albums on Vinyl using the original artwork, track listing, and catalog numbers?

I haven't seen any Vinyl in stores, but I know that Brand New re-issues of albums are available online and though some are, at last check around $10.00, some go for much higher. I remember a couple years ago seeing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" re-issued using the same artwork and track listing, I can't say anything about the catalog number being I don't own his album.

This way, people such as myself, could get Brand New re-issues on Vinyl and other's could get them on CD, but they would be losing out on the sound quality being "Digital" music is compressed, and can't reproduce the same frequencies as Analog Vinyl or Tape recordings. Though most people wouldn't notice a difference unless they were using a high quality sound system or even had their audio equipment connected to an oscilloscope or frequency analyzer.

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--------------------------------------------------------------Christmas Isn't Just A Day In December, It's A Way Of LifeSusan

No Susan, I do not know of any record labels that are reissuing their Christmas albums on LP.

And as far as Real Gone Music is concerned, I would never under any circumstances suggest to Gordon Anderson the reissuing of any Christmas albums on LP.

First of all, despite the nascent mini revival of LPs, the fact of the matter is that their day is over. Technology has moved on; and to divert precious funds away from reissuing new titles that are still out of print is not only not sensible, it's grossly unfair to all those folks who would be cheated out of additional new Christmas CD reissues.

I know you like LPs, but as you so correctly said in your post, most people wouldn't notice the difference in frequencies unless they were using a high quality sound system.

I guess, it wouldn't be fair, but I also think that the age of the CD is on it's way out, and you will be able, if not already, to get albums on a memory card that is Non-Volatile and copy protected. I vaguely remember seeing an article a few years ago about this being the wave of the future in Digital Music.

Oh well, at least I do have mostly original releases on Vinyl to satisfy my palate and thirst for Christmas music.

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--------------------------------------------------------------Christmas Isn't Just A Day In December, It's A Way Of LifeSusan

While that might very well be true, Susan, that as a general rule CDs are on their way out, that unequivocally is not the case with some companies including (and most importantly to Christmas music lovers) Real Gone Music.

Gordon and Gabby (of Real Gone Music) are categorically not going to abandon the CD format; in
fact, the crux of their business is based on it. What's more is that
the company, thankfully, does not offer nor allow their releases to be
made available as downloadable music.

And to this I say three cheers
for Real Gone Music because, quite frankly, what a rotten world this
would be if there was no longer a way in which you could physically
purchase an album. This virtual stuff of today is for the birds; and I think it's despicable that for the most part in the music industry today, the beauty
of a physical release of an album has pretty much gone by the wayside.
And I dare say that most of the folks on this message board would agree.

Last year, UMG re-issued Bing Crosby's "Merry Christmas", "Christmas with the Chipmunks" and the soundtrack of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on vinyl. They used the original artwork (the Chimpunks has a foil cover!) and labels. Unfortunately the vinyl is a bit noisy on the Chipmunks LP. I haven't played the Crosby and Rudolph LPs yet, as I just got my turntable up and running again and have been transferring some other LPs to CD. I just bought them for the novelty.

Yes, I was told about these limited-edition vinyl releases over the weekend by my friend who had seen them on Amazon. In addition to those three vinyl releases, UMG also reissued Frank Sinatra's A Jolly Christmas on vinyl as well. However, this does not constitute a wholesale release on vinyl.

It is quite remarkable that UMG has been sitting on a vast archive of unreleased Christmas material by numerous artists that they not only have never remastered and reissued on CD, but have made it very difficult for other companies, like Real Gone Music, to lease the copyrights to do it themselves. And then on top of all that they go and expend valuable resources to release limited-edition vinyl reissues of albums that are already in print on CD, instead of releasing numerous albums by other artists that have been out of print for years.

Upshot: I thought very little of them as a company before; and I think even less of them as a company now (if that was possible). My feeling is only tempered somewhat by the pending results of the current negotiations that could yield some blockbusters that we'll be able to release through Real Gone Music.

I wish I could remember where I saw the article, but it isn't important. And yes, I agree with you "what a rotten world this would be if there was no longer a way in which you could physically purchase an album. This virtual stuff of today is for the birds; and I think it's despicable that for the most part in the music industry today, the beauty of a physical release of an album has pretty much gone by the wayside" and "It is sad, from where we started, that we have gotten to this. Woe is me... "

It is sad that in most cases with CD releases today that the beautifully designed artwork is gone, in some cases forever, but it is nice that Gordon Cooper does try to use the original artwork and liner notes where possible.

I hate the cheap knock-off CD's that are of very poor quality and often are an abridged version of the original album, with different artwork and the track listings are different. They even change the names of the albums.

I don't completely rule out CD's, but if that is the only way to get an album, until I am able to find the original Vinyl, then I may purchase a CD. As for listening to my albums while I am away from home or driving, I will put them on Re-Writeable CD's and listen to the music that way.

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--------------------------------------------------------------Christmas Isn't Just A Day In December, It's A Way Of LifeSusan

Yes, Gordon does a top-notch job on his CD reissue releases. They are produced with very high production values: remastering (most of which is done at the renowned Battery Mastering Studios here in New York); artwork (for both the CD jewel case, as well as on the CD itself); and liner notes which average 1500 words (all of which are written by authorities on music).

Oh, by the way, just for your edification: Gordon's last name is Anderson, not Cooper.

Couldn't agree more! I received my Melachrino Christmas Joy CD yesterday afternoon and gave it a listen this morning. It sounded like something completely new to me. I've been listening to my old beat-up Melachrino LPs for the last fifty years, but today I felt like I was hearing that marvelous music for the first time.

In addition to the incredibly remastered CD they include a booklet of liner notes with tidbits about the history of the songs, the arrangements and the recording.

I am disappointed, however, that my copy of the booklet arrived with a crease down the middle. I wonder whom I would contact to see if I can get an undamaged one.

I always thought that was a pretty cool photo on the front of the Melachrino Christmas LP.

Probably my non-photo favorite is the '54 version of PF Music of Christmas; but as far as an actual photograph, I would have to think about that one for about a week before I could come-up with my favorite Christmas LP cover. Columbia and RCA did great, but the special products collections had great covers too. Hmmmmm- maybe a new topic post for that one.

There is already an existing thread on the message board for favorite Christmas album covers. It was created by board member Yuleboyy back in January 2010: click here. (My post of the Top 3 covers of all-time is the third post down.)